"The second day of July, 1776, will be the
most memorable
epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be
celebrated
by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought
to be
commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to
God
Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows,
games,
sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this
continent
to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset,
Americans celebrated
independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized
Declaration of
Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of
independence was
approved in a closed session of Congress.

One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that
Congress signed
the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The myth had become so
firmly
established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their
lives,
even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe
that they
and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on the fourth. Most
delegates
actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. In a remarkable
series of
coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding
fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed
the Declaration
of Independence to become president,
died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th
anniversary. President James
Monroe died exactly five years later, on July 4, 1831, but he
was not a
signatory to the Declaration of Independence.

In 1777, thirteen gunshots
were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol,
Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary
in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official
dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches,
prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were
decked with red, white, and blue bunting.

In 1783, Moravians in Salem,
North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a
challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This
work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".

In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence
Day" occurred.

In 1870, the U.S.
Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal
employees.

In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid
federal holiday.

Independence Day is a national
holiday marked by patriotic
displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day
celebrations
often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so
all
non-essential federal institutions (like the postal
service and federal
courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians
make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the
nation's
heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or
attending a picnic or
barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long
weekend to
gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers,
balloons, and
clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the
American
flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks
displays occur in
the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are
sold for
personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns
have led
some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit
traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.

A salute of one gun for each state in the United States,
called a “salute
to the union,” is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable
military
base.

While the official observance always falls on July 4th,
participation levels
may vary according to which day of the week the 4th falls on. If the
holiday
falls in the middle of the week, some fireworks displays and
celebrations may
take place during the weekend for convenience, again, varying by region.

Unique or historical
celebrations

Originally entitled Yankee
Doodle, this is one of several versions of a scene
painted by A. M.
Willard that came to be known as The
Spirit of '76. Often imitated or parodied, it is a
familiar symbol of American patriotism.